Those warnings were discontinued for Puerto Rico late Thursday morning and the government of the Dominican Republic changed their warnings to a tropical storm watch instead.

"Gabrielle has become very poorly organized," the U.S. National Hurricane Center says. "It is expected to degenerate to a remnant low pressure area tonight or Friday as the center moves over the Dominican Republic."

Forecasters add that between 50-100 mm of rain is expected for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with isolated maximum amounts of up to 200 mm possible in areas of mountainous terrain.